U.S. patent number 10,720,263 [Application Number 14/068,886] was granted by the patent office on 2020-07-21 for electrical cable support arrangement.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ELECTRICAL MATERIALS COMPANY. The grantee listed for this patent is Electrical Materials Company. Invention is credited to Michael F. O'Regan, Timothy J. O'Regan, Timothy M. O'Regan, Frank J. Wolfard.
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United States Patent |
10,720,263 |
O'Regan , et al. |
July 21, 2020 |
Electrical cable support arrangement
Abstract
An electric cable saddle, or support, arrangement includes a
housing having an upper recessed portion adapted to receive and
support one or more electrical cables in a fixed, stable manner.
Plural apertures disposed on upper portions of the housing on
opposed sides of the cable(s) and aligned generally transverse to
the length of the cable(s) are adapted to receive a flexible, high
strength tie member, or strap, for securely attaching the cable(s)
to an upper portion of the housing. A slot disposed in a lower
portion of the housing and also aligned generally transverse to the
length of the cables(s) is adapted to receive a structural support
member for supporting the housing and cable(s). A retaining member
also disposed in a lower portion of the housing is moveable
adjacent to or into engagement with the support member for fixed
positioning of the housing on the support member.
Inventors: |
O'Regan; Timothy M. (Chicago,
IL), O'Regan; Timothy J. (Park Ridge, IL), Wolfard; Frank
J. (Batavia, IL), O'Regan; Michael F. (Leland, IL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electrical Materials Company |
Genoa City |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ELECTRICAL MATERIALS COMPANY
(Genoa City, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
52994124 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/068,886 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150114683 A1 |
Apr 30, 2015 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01B
3/30 (20130101); H02G 9/08 (20130101); H02G
3/263 (20130101); H02G 3/32 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01B
3/30 (20060101); H02G 9/08 (20060101); H02G
3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;174/174 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report prepared by the ISA/US, and dated Feb.
9, 2015. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Mayo, III; William H.
Assistant Examiner: Gonzalez; Hiram E
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greer Burns & Crain, Ltd.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An electrically insulated saddle arrangement for maintaining one
or more electrical utility power distribution cables in fixed
position on a support member, said saddle arrangement comprising: a
housing comprised of a high strength, lightweight plastic and
having an upper recessed curvilinear portion adapted for receiving
one or more electrical cables, wherein said upper recessed portion
of said housing is defined by a single flat inner portion for
receiving and supporting one or more electrical cables and first
and second opposed, upwardly extending outer lateral portions each
disposed on an upper portion of said housing and including one or
more respective aligned apertures, each defined by a perimeter,
wherein said single flat inner portion extends from said first
outer lateral portion to said second outer lateral portion, wherein
said one or more aligned apertures are positioned above and spaced
apart from said single flat inner portion of said housing, such
that a section of said outer lateral portion extends upwardly
between said single flat inner portion and a lowermost point of
said perimeter of said aperture associated therewith, and further
wherein said aligned apertures are spaced apart from an uppermost
edge of said outer lateral portion associated therewith such that a
segment of said outer lateral portion is between an uppermost point
of said perimeter of said aligned aperture and said uppermost edge
of said outer lateral portion associated therewith; a tie
arrangement including an elongated, flexible tie member attached to
said aligned apertures in said first and second opposed, upwardly
extending outer lateral portions of said housing for retaining said
elongated, flexible tie member, said tie member spanning the
housing's upper recessed curvilinear portion for engaging and
maintaining the one or more electrical cables in fixed position on
said housing; and a retaining arrangement disposed on a lower
portion of said housing and including first and second slots
aligned transverse to one another, wherein said first slot is
adapted to receive the support member and a moveable member
disposed in said second slot and adapted for positioning across
said first slot and in engagement with the support member for
fixedly attaching said housing to the support member while allowing
the one or more electrical cables to move in a sliding manner along
their respective lengths in the housing's upper recessed
curvilinear portion.
2. The saddle arrangement of claim 1, wherein said housing is
comprised of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
3. The saddle arrangement of claim 1, wherein said tie member
includes plural spaced teeth along the length thereof and a
receptacle housing disposed on a first end thereof and adapted to
receive a second opposed end of said tie member and engage said
spaced teeth for securely maintaining said tie member attached to
said housing and in engagement with one or more of the electrical
cables.
4. The saddle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the length of the
upper recessed curvilinear inner portion of said housing is aligned
with and extends along a portion of the length of said one or more
electrical cables.
5. The saddle arrangement of claim 1, wherein the support member
and said first slot disposed in a lower portion of said housing
adapted to receive said support member are aligned generally
transverse to the length of said one or more electrical cables.
6. The saddle arrangement of claim 1, wherein said moveable member
is slideable between a first position disposed in a spaced manner
from said first slot for allowing said housing to be attached to or
removed from the support member, and a second position wherein said
moveable member is disposed across said first slot and said support
member for preventing removal of said housing from the support
member.
7. The saddle arrangement of claim 1 wherein said at least one
second slot and said moveable member have complementary
cross-sectional shapes that are sized so that said moveable member
is received in said at least one second slot in a tight-fitting
manner.
8. The saddle arrangement of claim 7, wherein said at least one
second slot and said moveable member are generally channel-shaped
in cross-section.
9. The saddle arrangement of claim 7, wherein said moveable member
includes an elongated, linear shaft adapted for insertion in said
at least one second slot and a handle for gripping disposed on an
end of said shaft.
10. Apparatus for securely mounting one or more electrical utility
power distribution cables to a structural member, said apparatus
comprising: a housing having an upper, recessed curvilinear portion
and first and second upraised, spaced portions disposed on
respective ends of said upper recessed portion, wherein said upper
recessed portion of said housing includes a single flat inner
portion for receiving and supporting said one or more electrical
utility power distribution cables and wherein said first and second
upraised, spaced portions of said upper, recessed curvilinear
portion include respective aligned apertures, each defined by a
perimeter, wherein said single flat inner portion extends from said
first upraised, spaced portion to said second upraised, space
portion, wherein said aligned apertures are each positioned above
and spaced apart from said single flat inner portion of said
housing, such that a section of an associated one of said upraised,
spaced portions extends upwardly between said single flat inner
portion and a lowermost point of said perimeter of said aligned
aperture associated therewith, and further wherein said aligned
apertures are spaced apart from an uppermost edge of said upraised,
spaced portion associated therewith such that a segment of said
upraised, spaced portion is between an uppermost point of said
perimeter of said aligned aperture and said uppermost edge of said
upraised, spaced portion associated therewith, said housing further
having a lower portion including one or more first apertures and
one or more second apertures aligned transverse to one another; a
support member attached to the structural member and adapted for
positioning in said one or more first apertures for providing
support for said housing; a retaining member positioned in the
housing's one or more second apertures and disposed adjacent to, or
in sliding contact with, said support member for preventing removal
of said housing from said support member; and an elongated,
flexible member having a locking structure disposed in a spaced
manner along at least a portion of the length of said elongated,
flexible member, wherein said elongated, flexible member is adapted
for coupling to said housing by insertion through the aligned
apertures in the housing's first and second upraised, spaced
portions so as to extend across the housing's upper, recessed
curvilinear portion and engage and maintain the one or more
electrical utility power distribution cables securely in position
in the upper, recessed curvilinear portion of said housing.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said one or more first
apertures are in the form of first plural aligned slots each
adapted to receive said support member.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said retaining member is an
elongated, linear member and is adapted for positioning within said
one or more second apertures in a removable manner.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said retaining member
includes an elongated, generally linear shaft disposed adjacent to,
or in contact with, said structural member.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said retaining member
further includes a handle disposed on an end of said linear shaft
to facilitate manual insertion and removal of said retaining member
into and out of the housing's one or more second apertures.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said support member is
unitary in composition and includes a first generally horizontal,
elongated section inserted in said one or more first apertures, and
a first end portion attached to the support structure, said support
member further including a second inclined section extending from
said first elongated section and having a second end portion
attached to said support structure.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first plural aligned
slots are aligned generally transverse to the length of the
electrical cables.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said one or more second
apertures are aligned generally parallel to the length of the
electrical cables.
18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the upper recessed portion
of said housing and said elongated, flexible member are aligned
generally transverse to the length of the electrical cables.
19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said housing further
includes plural aligned third apertures through which said
elongated, flexible member is inserted.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said third apertures are
disposed in upper, opposed lateral portions of said housing and are
aligned generally transverse to the length of the electrical
cables.
21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said elongated, flexible
member is comprised of a high strength polypropylene.
22. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said housing is comprised of
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
23. A system including an electrically insulated saddle arrangement
for maintaining one or more electrical utility power distribution
cables in fixed position on a support member, said system
comprising: at least one electrical utility power distribution
cable; a housing comprised of a high strength, lightweight plastic
and having an upper recessed curvilinear portion adapted for
receiving said at least one electrical utility power distribution
cable, wherein said upper recessed portion of said housing is
defined by an inner portion that receives and supports said at
least one electrical utility power distribution cable and first and
second opposed, upwardly extending outer lateral portions each
disposed on an upper portion of said housing and including one or
more respective aligned apertures, wherein said one or more aligned
apertures are positioned above and spaced apart from said inner
portion; a tie arrangement including an elongated, flexible tie
member attached to said aligned apertures in said first and second
opposed, upwardly extending outer lateral portions of said housing
for retaining said elongated, flexible tie member, said tie member
spanning the housing's upper recessed curvilinear portion and
engaging and maintaining said at least electrical utility power
distribution cable in fixed position on said housing; and a
retaining arrangement disposed on a lower portion of said housing
and including first and second slots aligned transverse to one
another, wherein said first slot is adapted to receive the support
member and a moveable member disposed in said second slot and
adapted for positioning across said first slot and in engagement
with the support member for fixedly attaching said housing to the
support member while allowing said at least one or electrical
utility power distribution cable to move in a sliding manner along
its respective length in the housing's upper recessed curvilinear
portion, wherein said elongated, flexible tie member includes an
inner segment extending between innermost portions of said aligned
apertures, and an outer segment extending between outermost
portions of said aligned apertures, and further wherein said inner
and outer segments of said elongated, flexible tie member are both
positioned above an uppermost one of said at least one electrical
utility power distribution cables, such that all of said electrical
utility power distribution cables are seated between said inner and
outer segments of said flexible tie member and said inner portion
of said upper recessed portion of said housing, and wherein said
one or more aligned apertures are each defined by a perimeter, and
further wherein said aligned apertures are spaced apart from an
uppermost edge of said outer lateral portion associated therewith
such that a segment of said outer lateral portion is between an
uppermost point of said perimeter of said aligned aperture and said
uppermost edge of said outer lateral portion associated therewith,
and still further wherein said inner portion extends from said
first outer lateral portion to said second outer lateral portion
and a segment of each of said outer lateral portions extends
upwardly between said inner portion and a lowermost point of said
perimeter of said aperture associated therewith.
24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said aligned
apertures are located above a majority, when considered in the
thickness direction, of a lowermost one of said at least one
electrical utility power distribution cables seated upon said inner
portion of said housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the positioning and support of
one or more electrical cables in a fixed, secure manner such as in
an underground cable run which includes one or more manholes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electric power cables are frequently routed underground,
particularly in congested areas, using concrete enclosures,
commonly known as manholes, located below grade for housing spliced
cables that are continuous or form junctions for individual cable
take offs. The cable junctions, or take offs, are commonly used for
serving individual electric power users. In the early 1900's to on
or about the year 2000, a lead sheath was installed by electrical
utilities on multi-conductor power cables. This lead sheath formed
part of the neutral system in multi-grounded high voltage electric
power distribution systems. The lead sheath was electrically
insulated from the electric cable steel supports in a manhole to
prevent corrosion caused by neutral currents. Insulation was
initially provided for the electric cable by porcelain cable
saddles which supported the electrical cables. These porcelain
cable saddles were very brittle and highly subject to impact damage
or breakage. Environmental problems with porcelain manufacturing
byproducts also inspired replacement of the porcelain insulated
supports with injection molded products in the 1980's. In addition,
the use of larger electrical cables carrying increased electrical
load necessitated additional cable support. For example, with the
increased electrical power a conducting cable undergoes increased
contortion as it expands and contracts greater distances along its
length with load cycles and heavy fault currents. This expansion
occurs primarily in manholes, with the cables applying upward and
sideways pressure on the cable saddle. In some cases, cotter pins
were used to secure the support saddle to a support bracket.
However, the cotter pins were difficult to install in the steel
cable supports, and thus were frequently not properly installed,
and cables and splices were subject to falling off of the metal
cable support resulting in cable joint damage, failure, subsequent
service interruptions, and costly repairs. In the 1980's, cable
joint support saddles were introduced and molded from high
molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE).
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of
the prior art by providing for the safe and fixed positioning of
one or more electrical cables in a manhole of an underground cable
run using high strength, insulated cable saddles for supporting the
cable(s) and/or splices or junctions of the cable(s).
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
for the fixed, secure positioning and support of one or more
electrical cables in an underground manhole.
It is another object of the present invention to maintain electric
power cables in fixed position and orientation while accommodating
longitudinal contraction and expansion of the cables arising from
changes in electric load.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide support,
fixed positioning, insulation and protection for power cable joint
and splice arrangements in a closed environment such as a
manhole.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an
insulated, rugged, easily installed and reliable
mounting/positioning arrangement for one or more electric power
cables, as well as for multi-cable junctions and splices, which is
particularly adapted for use in closed, congested
installations.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
high strength, electrically insulated, rugged electric power cable
support saddle which is fixedly attached to the cable, insulates
the cable from its support structure, and maintains cable
connections such as splices and junctions and preserves the joint
connection.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
rectangular-shaped support saddle for electrical cables which is
adapted for permanent attachment to the support of the cables by
applying slight pressure to a slider retainer while being capable
of unlatching by tapping on the side of the support saddle.
The present invention contemplates a saddle arrangement for
engaging, electrically insulating, and maintaining one or more
electrical cables in fixed position on a support member such as in
an underground manhole. The saddle arrangement includes a housing
comprised of a high strength, lightweight, insulating plastic and
having an upper recessed portion adapted for receiving and
supporting one or more electrical cables. The inventive saddle
arrangement further includes a tie arrangement coupled to an upper
portion of the housing and spanning the housing's upper recessed
portion for engaging and retaining one or more electrical cables on
the housing within its upper recessed portion. The inventive saddle
further includes a retaining arrangement disposed in a lower
portion of the housing and including a slot adapted to receive the
support member in a tight-fitting manner and a moveable member
adapted for positioning across the slot and in engagement with the
support member for fixedly attaching the housing and one or more
electrical cables disposed thereon to the support member in a
removable manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The appended claims set forth those novel features which
characterize the invention. However, the invention itself, as well
as further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood
by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
where like reference characters identify like elements throughout
the various figures, in which:
FIG. 1a is an end-on view of a prior art electrical cable support
saddle;
FIG. 1b is a side elevation view of the electrical cable support
saddle illustrated in FIG. 1a;
FIG. 2a is an end-on view of a prior art electrical cable joint
support saddle shown with three 1/c electrical cables and a 3/c
cable thereon, and also illustrating the support saddle attached to
a conventional support structure;
FIG. 2b is a side elevation view of the prior art electrical cable
joint support saddle shown in FIG. 2a.
FIG. 3a is a side plan view of a conventional manhole illustrating
the use of cable saddles with high voltage cables;
FIG. 3b is a longitudinal sectional view of the manhole with cable
saddles with high voltage cables shown in FIG. 3a;
FIG. 4a is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrical cable
support saddle attached to a support member in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 4b is a transverse sectional view shown partially in phantom
of the inventive electrical cable support saddle shown in FIG.
4a;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inventive electrical
cable support saddle;
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the inventive electrical
cable support saddle;
FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of another embodiment of an
electrical cable support saddle in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the electrical cable support saddle
shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a slide member for attaching the
inventive electrical cable support saddle to a support member;
and
FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the electrical cable support
saddle shown in FIG. 7 illustrating the manner in which the support
saddle is securely attached to a support member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1a and 2b, there are respectively shown end-on
and side elevation views of a prior art electrical cable saddle
mount 10. FIGS. 2a and 2b are respectively end-on and side
elevation views of the prior art cable saddle mount 10 illustrating
additional details of the invention. Prior art cable saddle mount
10 is typically comprised of porcelain primarily for its insulating
characteristics and includes a generally rectangular housing 12
having an upper portion 14 which includes a recessed portion 14a.
Recessed portion 14a is generally semi-circular in shape and is
adapted to receive and support one or more electrical cables, where
three such cables are shown as elements 17a, 17b and 17c in FIG.
1a, with only cables 17b and 17c illustrated in FIG. 1b. The three
cables form the basis for current three phase electric power
distribution systems. The center axis of the cable saddle mount's
recessed upper portion 14a is aligned parallel with the respective
lengths of the three electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c. The three
electrical 1/c single conductor cables 17a, 17c and 17b are wrapped
around each other along their respective lengths in spiral manner
so as to cancel out the magnetic fields within and about each of
the three electrical cables. This arrangement, which is known as a
three single conductor main feeder cable, reduces the capacitance
and inductance of the conductor arrangement for improved and more
efficient electric power transmission.
The prior art cable saddle joint mount's housing 12 includes first
and second spaced lower flanges 16a and 16b each aligned generally
transverse to the lengths of the three cables 17a, 17b and 17c and
having a respective aperture, or slot, 18a and 18b extending
threrethrough. The first and second apertures 18a, 18b respectively
disposed within the first and second spaced lower flanges 16a, 16b
are in mutual alignment and are adapted to receive a retaining pin
20 as shown in FIG. 1b. Also disposed on a lower portion of the
cable saddle mount's housing 12 is an elongated, linear slot 24
which is also aligned generally transverse to the lengths of the
three electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c and is adapted to receive
a structural support member 26. Support member 26 is attached to
another structural member (not shown) in the manhole through which
the three electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c pass and within which
the cable saddle mount 10 is intended for use. Support member 26 is
typically comprised of a high strength steel, with the porcelain
cable saddle mount 10 insulating the three electrical cables 17a,
17b from the support member. Retaining pin 20 includes a slot, or
aperture, 20a adjacent one end thereof which is adapted to receive
a cotter pin 22 for maintaining the retaining pin within the
aligned apertures 18a, 18b of the first and second spaced lower
flanges 16a, 16b of the cable joint saddle mount's housing 12. It
is in this manner that the cable saddle mount 10 and the three
electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c disposed thereon are maintained
in fixed position on support member 26. While the prior art cable
saddle mount 10 is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b as providing support
for three electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c, this type of cable
joint saddle mount is also used to support trifurcating joints
where a single incoming electrical cable is modified to form a
joint for providing a pair of outgoing cables, with one of the
outgoing cables directed to an end user of electric power in the
electric power distribution network as described in the following
paragraph.
Referring to FIG. 3a, there is shown a sectional view of a
conventional manhole 72 within which the electrical cable support
arrangement of the present invention is particularly adapted for
use. FIG. 3b is a sectional view of the manhole 72 taken along site
line A-A in FIG. 3a. Manhole 72 includes a hollow housing 74
typically comprised of concrete. Housing 74 includes on its outer
surface plural conduit, or duct, sections 76a-76e, where the fifth
duct section 76e is shown in dotted line form. Each of the conduit
sections 76a-76e includes plural ducts 80, each of which is
typically coupled to a respective conduit and is adapted to receive
a respective electrical cable, or cables, as shown for the case of
the second conduit duct section 76b having plural spaced ducts 80,
where three of the ducts provide exits from the manhole's housing
74 for three 1/c single conductor electrical cables 17a, 17b and
17c. A 3/c three conductor input cable 78 is routed through a duct
in the first conduit duct section 76a into the manhole's housing
74. Within manhole housing 74 are plural cable saddle mounts
30a-30e in accordance with the present invention. Each of the cable
saddle mounts 30a-30d is securely affixed by conventional means
such as mounting bolts (not shown for simplicity) to the inner wall
of the manhole's housing 74 and each is adapted to engage and
provide support for one or more electrical cables as described
below. A first cable saddle mount 30a directs the 3/c electrical
input cable 78 within housing 74 to a first standard, or
conventional, 3/c cable splice joint 86a, which is engaged and
supported by a conventional cable support arrangement as
illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The 3/c input cable 78 is spliced
so as to form three additional 1/c single conductor electrical
cables 17a, 17b and 17c. As described above, each of the three 1/c
electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c is routed out of the manhole's
housing 74 via a respective duct 80 within the manhole's second
conduit section 76b. Electrical cable 78 also exits the first cable
splice joint 86a. The 3/c electrical cable 78 and the three 1/c
electrical cables 17a, 17b and 17c are engaged and supported by
cable saddle mount 30e in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention illustrated in FIG. 7. Electrical cable 78 is
routed to a second cable splice joint 86b and is supported on both
sides of the second cable splice joint by means of second and third
cable saddle mounts 30b and 30c of the present invention. The
electrical cable 78 is then routed to and supported by a fourth
cable saddle mount 30d in accordance with the present invention as
it is provided to a third conduit duct section 76c for exiting the
manhole's housing 74. While only a single electrical input cable 78
and only three 1/c single conductor electrical cables 17a, 17b and
17c are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, it can be appreciated from these
figures that a larger number of input electrical cables and spliced
output electrical cables can easily be accommodated by the
configuration of manhole's housing 74.
Referring to FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5 and 6, there are shown various views
of a cable saddle mount 30 in accordance with the principles of the
present invention. FIGS. 4a and 6b are respectively end-on and side
elevation views shown partially in phantom of the inventive cable
saddle mount 30. Referring specifically to FIG. 4a, the cable
saddle mount 30 is shown attached to an upper portion 32b of a
support member 32. Support member 32 is attached to a structural
member 34 such as in a manhole (not shown) by means of first and
second couplers 36a and 36b. Support member 32 includes its upper
portion 32a coupled to the structural member 34 by means of first
coupler 36a. Support member 32 further includes a lower portion 32b
attached to the structural member 34 by means of second coupler
36b. Support member 32 is conventional in design and function and
is of unitary construction, with its upper and lower portions 32a,
32b linked by an integral coupling portion 32c. Structural member
34 and support member 32 are typically comprised of a high strength
metal such as steel.
Cable saddle mount 30 includes a generally rectangular housing 31
preferably comprised of an electrically insulating and flame
retardant material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),
including inner ribs for increased strength. Cable saddle mount 30
includes a generally semicircular upper recessed portion 36 which
is adapted to receive and support plural electrical cables, such as
three electrical cables 38a, 38b and 38c shown in FIG. 4a.
Disposed in upper, opposed lateral portions of the cable saddle
mount's housing 31 are first and second aligned slots, or
apertures, 40a and 40b. Each of the aligned slots 40a, 40b is
disposed adjacent a respective lateral portion of the cable saddle
mount's upper recessed portion 36. Each of the aligned slots 40a,
40b is adapted to receive a cable tie 35 inserted therethrough.
Cable tie 35 includes a receptacle housing 35a disposed adjacent a
first end thereof, as well as plural spaced teeth 35b, or
projections, 35b disposed in a spaced manner along a surface of the
cable tie. Receptacle housing 35a is adapted to receive a second
opposed end of the cable tie 35 and to allow for the drawing of the
cable tie through the receptacle housing. An inner portion of the
receptacle housing 35a is provided with a complementary set of
teeth (not shown in the figure for simplicity) which are adapted to
engage teeth 35b so as to prevent withdraw of the cable tie from
its receptacle housing. As shown in FIG. 4a, cable tie 35 is
inserted through aligned apertures 40a and 40b and into engagement
with one or more of the three electrical cables 38a, 38b and 38c.
With the cable tie 35 drawn tightly about the three electrical
cables 38a, 38b and 38c, the cables are securely maintained in
fixed position within the cable saddle mount's upper recessed
portion 36. Cable tie 35 is preferably comprised of a high strength
polypropylene to accommodate changes in the temperature of the
electrical cables with changes in load current which gives rise to
expansion and contraction of the electrical cables along the length
of each of the cables resulting in cable contortions and changes in
position. The high strength of the cable tie 35 resists these
tendencies of the electrical cables to move with changes in the
electrical load current so as to maintain each of the electrical
conductors 38a, 38b and 38c in secure, fixed position on cable
saddle mount 30.
Disposed in a lower portion of the cable saddle mount's housing 31
is a first elongated, generally linear lower slot 48 which extends
the width of the housing. Lower slot 48 is adapted to receive in
tight-fitting engagement the upper portion 32a of support member 32
as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. As described above, support member 32
is typically comprised of a high strength metal such as steel and
provides support for the cable saddle mount 30. Support member 32
including its upper and lower portions 32a and 32b are aligned
generally transverse to the lengths of the three electrical cables
38a, 38b and 38c.
Also disposed in a lower portion of the cable saddle mount's
housing 31 and aligned generally transverse to the first lower slot
48 is a second lower slot 44. Second lower slot 44 is adapted to
receive in a sliding manner an elongated, generally linear member
46. When slide member 46 is inserted in the second lower slot 44,
the slide member is disposed below the upper portion 32a of support
member 32 for securely attaching in a fixed manner cable saddle
mount 30 to the support member. Slide member 46 is also preferably
comprised of ABS and has a generally channel-shaped cross section
so as to match the channel-shaped cross section of the second lower
slot 44 within the cable saddle mount's housing 31. In addition,
one end of an elongated, linear portion of the moveable slide
member 46 is provided with a handle 46a to facilitate insertion and
removal of the slide member from the second lower slot 44. Slide
member 46 is also provided with first and second spaced locking
tabs 46b and 46c to ensure that the slide member is easily and
permanently affixed to the cable saddle mount's housing 31 when
installed and is not subject to being misplaced when not in use, or
prior to installation.
Referring to FIGS. 7-10, there are shown various views of another
embodiment of a cable saddle mount 50 in accordance with the
present invention. FIGS. 8 and 10 are respectively top plan and
side elevation views of the inventive cable saddle mount 50. FIG. 7
is a front, or end-on, view of cable saddle mount 50 shown engaging
and supporting a first through 3/c cable 53 and a second branch
cable 55 formed by splicing the through cable. The second branch
cable 55 typically undergoes a 90.degree. bend, or turn, before
exiting the manhole within which the splice is located for
providing electric power to a user in the electric power
distribution network. As in the previously described embodiment,
the cable saddle mount's housing 51 includes an upper recessed
portion 52 adapted to engage and support the first through cable 53
and the second branch cable 55. Upper spaced, lateral portions of
the cable saddle mount's housing 51 respectively include a first
pair of aligned apertures 54a, 54b and a second pair of aligned
apertures 60a, 60b. All of the aforementioned apertures are in
common alignment and are adapted to receipt a flexible cable tie 56
having a receptacle housing 56 dispose on one end thereof and
plural spaced teeth 56b disposed along a portion of the length of
the cable tie as in the previously described embodiment. Also as in
the previously described embodiment, housing 51 includes a first
lower slot 61 adapted to receive in a tight-fitting manner a
support member 65. Housing 51 further includes a second lower slot
58 oriented generally transverse to first lower slot 61 and adapted
to receive and engage a sliding member 59 for securely and fixedly
maintaining cable saddle mount 50 on support member 65. Also as in
the previously described embodiment, slide member 62 has a
generally channel-shaped cross section to match that of the second
lower slot 58 and includes an elongated, generally linear shaft 62a
having a handle 62b disposed on one end thereof and a pair of
spaced locking tabs 62c and 62d as in the previously described
embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The cable saddle mount
50 embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10 differs from the earlier
described cable saddle mount 30 embodiment in that the upper
recessed portion 52 of the cable saddle mount's housing 51 has a
generally flat inner portion for supporting the first through 3/c
cable 53 and the second 1/c branch cables 55. The flatness of the
upper recessed portion 52 of housing 51 is adapted for engaging and
supporting a pair of electrical cable runs which are laterally
spaced from one another as shown in FIG. 7. The flatness of the
cable saddle mount's upper recessed portion 52 also allows for the
required support of increased numbers of electrical cables
emanating from an adjacent trifurcating joint as shown in FIGS. 2a
and 2b.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the relevant arts
that changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications that
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter
set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is
offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The
actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the
following claims when viewed in their proper prospective based on
the prior art.
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